Just Because You Are Impatient, Does NOT Mean I Have To Move Any Faster!by Keith A. Shaw, President of Mind Body Spirit Central.com

From the person who rides your rear bumper in traffic, honking their horn, or other people who loudly (and rudely) complain because the line that they are standing in is moving too slowly for them, there are some pretty impatient people in the world. And I am sure that you encounter your “un-fair” share of them every day.

In order to be a success in any endeavor you undertake you need to integrate the “art” of patience into your life.

If you do not know or understand what patience is here is one definition:

“The quality of being patient, as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation or the like.”

Another definition says that patience is “an ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay.”

Have we evolved into beings that have become so selfish and self absorbed that we have forgotten about our own self control? The ability to keep your mental, emotional and physical being, in check, requires self-control. The inability to do so is a sign that you are "out of control." When you easily lose your self control, you will most certainly fire off outbursts of anger, temper and blame on others.

Author Richard Rybolt said on the subject of patience, “There will be a time when loud-mouthed, incompetent people seem to be getting the best of you. When that happens, you only have to be patient and wait for them to self destruct. It never fails.”

Yep. And I saw it first hand while driving to work this Friday morning. The person driving in a green Jeep behind me just couldn’t wait. He drove close behind me, flashing his headlights for me to go faster, even though we were already doing the speed limit. Now, the police have been watching this road carefully over the last few weeks due to the amount of accidents and speeding cars. And, they have even parked an un-manned marked car in a number of spots to remind people to slow it down. However, “Mr. Impatient” could NOT wait. “Mr. Impatient” decides that he is going to pass me, and the road is marked with a double-yellow line. Now every person who has ever taken “Driving School 101” and passed their driver’s license test knows that you NEVER pass when there is a double yellow line, right? But “Mr. Impatient” was so self-absorbed and incompetent (when it comes to self mastery and self control) that he did not notice the police car that was following right behind him! As the police car’s lights activated and flashed like the grand finale of the “Pink Floyd Laser-Light Show” in his rear view mirror he pulled over to the side of the road.

It is the toughest, most challenging times of crisis that decide who the people of self (as in self absorbed) are and those of true power. Only the threat of disaster, ruin, and discrimination are some of the challenges in life that truly identify those with self control from those who are self centered and weak.

Develop a level of self awareness and wake up to the realities of life around you. As you develop or expand on your own “art” of patience, remember that everyone with whom you come in contact is busy working through their own struggles, weaknesses, setbacks, relapses, crises and obstacles to their personal growth and recovery. All of us are on the path to personal growth. There is no one exempt from this journey. It takes a lifetime to complete.

When you have developed your power, you will look upon incidents, such as having to stand in line or being late for work, in your life as comparatively insignificant. In comparison, the loss of your character and essence is the only happening which can really be called a calamity. When you have the power of your principles you are a calm, determined, in-control person under all circumstances - even when threatened with the loss of every possession, even to the loss of your reputation.

Keith Shaw (hey, that’s me) said in his book “The Power Of Serenity and Peace that “Tolerance is a characteristic of superior self control and patience is a hallmark of knowledge. When you maintain your unbroken calm amid all the duties and distractions of life you have found true power.”

Work on the “art” of patience within your self and you will find true power. And, hey “Mr. Impatient” man in the green Jeep, enjoy your traffic ticket and the points on your license. You could have better spent the money you will spend to cover the traffic fine by buying my book and learning the valuable life skill of patience.